Milwaukee Bucks

Considering the team hasn't had its entire complement of players for most of the season, the Milwaukee brass is elated by the Bucks' success.

The Bucks, who are 8-6 after losing to Oklahoma City on Friday night, have had to play most of their games without star shooting guard Michael Redd and veteran starting center Andrew Bogut.

Bogut and Redd have been in the starting lineup together just two times this season. Bogut has been sidelined with a strained left leg and contusion, and Redd just returned to action after having suffered a strained patella in his left knee.

With those important pieces missing, and with Luc Mbah a Moute having been out recently with a sore left foot, coach Scott Skiles has been forced to juggle his lineup.

Skiles' moves have generally been favorable, but the Bucks have hardly been a smooth-running machine.

"We haven't been as sharp with our execution in the moments we need to be," Skiles said. "But I don't think that's terribly unusual or anything. We got a lot of new players and Michael is back now. We're trying to figure things out."

THUNDER 108, BUCKS: The Bucks seemingly couldn't buy a basket in the third quarter in losing Friday night at Oklahoma City. After trailing 51-50 at halftime, the Bucks missed their first 13 shots in the third quarter and were outscored 27-13 in the period. The Bucks' starting backcourt of Michael Redd and Brandon Jennings went a combined 6-for-20 from the field and totaled 20 points.

• The Bucks had another rough night from the field against the Thunder on Friday night, shooting a woeful 37 percent. They were coming off a game against the Bobcats on Wednesday night when they shot a feeble 39 percent.

• The Bucks are 8-6, which is their best record to start a season since 2000-2001, when they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.

• The Thunder have a couple of players who are quite familiar to Bucks and Wisconsin basketball fans. Thunder guard Kyle Weaver is a former Beloit Memorial (Wis.) High School star, and another Thunder guard, Mike Wilks, is a former standout at Milwaukee King High School.

• The game was a homecoming of sorts for Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson, who once coached at the University of Oklahoma. Both of his children graduated from Norman High School and Oklahoma.

Quote To Note:

"He's had a lot of hype put on him and I think he's handled it well. Any time someone is a lottery pick, there's a lot of pressure on him. I admire him for coming in as a rookie and not being too overwhelmed by everything and playing great."

—G Jodie Meeks on fellow Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings, who was the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Rotation:

Starters—Point guard Brandon Jennings, Shooting guard Michael Redd, Small forward Carlos Delfino, Power forward Ersan Ilyasova, Center Dan Gadzuric. Bench—Power forward Hakim Warrick, Point guard Luke Ridnour, Center Kurt Thomas, Shooting guard Charlie Bell, Shooting guard Jodie Meeks, Point guard Roko Ukic, center Francisco Elson.

Player Notes:

• F Hakim Warrick registered his second straight impressive game off the bench. Warrick, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds against the Hornets on Wednesday night, finished with 15 points and eight rebounds Friday night at Oklahoma City.

• G Charlie Bell played 19 minutes against the Thunder on Friday night after having played at least 32 minutes in each of the previous six games. He played a season-high 40 minutes against the Grizzlies last Saturday night.

• G Jodie Meeks had played a grand total of seven minutes in the previous three games but played nine minutes against the Thunder on Friday night.

Medical Watch:

• G Michael Redd (strained left patella tendon) played in his third consecutive game Friday night after having missed nine straight games. Redd started against the Thunder after coming off the bench in the last two games.

• F Luc Mbah a Moute (sprained left foot) traveled with the team on its four-game trip and hoped on playing. However, Mbah a Moute didn't play in any of those games, including Friday night against the Thunder.

• C Andrew Bogut (left leg strain and contusion) sat out his fifth straight game Friday night. Bogut is expected to return to action in about two weeks.

• F Joe Alexander (right hamstring tear) hasn't played in any preseason or regular-season games. He likely will be sidelined until early January.